Increasing number of implantation failures and pregnancy losses associated with elevated Th1/Th2 cell ratio

Abstract

Problem: We aimed to assess whether an imbalance of T-helper (Th) 1 and Th2 cells contributes to implantation failure and pregnancy loss.

Method of study: In this cross-sectional study, 197 consecutive patients with a history of repeated implantation failure (RIF) after three or more embryo transfer (ET) cycles and/or recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) after two or more clinical pregnancy losses underwent Th cell testing. After excluding 42 women aged ≥44 and 9 with vitamin D supplementation, we recruited 146 women including 79 with RIF and 81 with RPL. Fourteen women had a history of both RIF and RPL. We also recruited 45 fertile women and 40 general infertile women without a history of in vitro fertilization treatment. This study was approved by the local ethics committee.

Results: There was no significant difference in IFN-γ-producing Th1 and IL-4-producing Th2 cell levels between the fertile and general infertile women, but Th1 cell levels and the Th1/Th2 cell ratio were significantly higher in the women with ≥4 ET cycles and ≥2 pregnancy losses than in the fertile and general infertile women. In the general infertile women, the total livebirth rates including natural conception after two ET cycles in the normal and high Th1/Th2 groups (Th1/Th2 <11.8 and ≥11.8, respectively) were 66.7% and 87.5%, respectively (p = .395).

Conclusions: A high Th1/Th2 cell ratio was linked to ≥4 implantation failure cycles and ≥2 pregnancy losses but not to general infertility.

Keywords: helper T cell; in vitro fertilization; recurrent pregnancy loss; repeated implantation failure; vitamin D.